Chicago Spring Bucket List: More than 30 things to do with Kids

Well, I don’t know about you but I am SO over winter. With the new spring season, I’m glad to start getting out and exploring. And as you may know, I am a huge list-lover. (Hello, I put together this list of more than 100 things to do in the northwest suburbs of Chicago!) So I thought it was totally appropriate to put together another list but this time for spring. Don’t forget to bookmark this page as I’ll keep adding more things to do.

Happy Spring!

*updated for 2019

Check out the new museum with dinosaurs! The former Lake County Discovery Museum has moved to Libertyville and is now The Bess Bower Dunn Museum. Superhero fan? They have a great new comic exhibit featuring the art of Alex Ross.

Learn about good food at the Good Food EXPO at the UIC Forum. kinds of activities to get kids involved with good food and healthy lifestyles. Activities will include seed planting, fruit & vegetable stamping, a book corner with Purple Asparagus’ Fruit & Vegetable Book Collection, Face Painting, Bookmark Making, and a Kids’ Scavenger Hunt. (March 23)

See SUE’s new home. SUE, our famous T.rex has her own fancy suite and quite frankly — it’s awesome! Better yet, visit on a free day (April 5, 6, 7, May 2). Check out our visit here.

Choo Choo! Head on over to Lamb’s Farm to celebrate Model Train Day. Afterward, go on the train and chug around the lake. (April 27, Libertyville)

Explore more Elmhurst museums on Elmhurst Museum Day. Take a trolley from stop to stop including Elmhurst History Museum, Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, and Elmhurst Art Museum. Admission is free, plus they have special activities. We went a few years back and had a blast! (May 19)

Make art accessible. The latest exhibit at Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Chagall for Children, is one NOT to miss. The traveling exhibit from a children’s museum has interactive elements that kids love and learn about art at the same time. But hurry it ends April 7th! (Read the review here.)

Love trains? Chug on over to the Illinois Railway Museum for their free days (April 6 and 27; Weekdays, May 1 – May 17) – yes FREE.

Explore the forests at Peggy Notebaert Museum. Climb inside an indoor treehouse and discover who’s living in trees with special viewfinders, tracking clues, natural artifacts and sound. (Now until June 2)

Ever wanted to see a windmill? How about a Japanese Garden? We have Fabyan Windmill and Japanese Garden has been on our list for ages. Opens May 6. (Geneva)

Release a butterfly. Take part in a Butterfly Release Party at Peck Farm Park in Geneva. You’ll get to release a butterfly, make a butterfly craft, eat a butterfly snack, and go on a butterfly hike. Sounds like a blast!

Ready to garden? Visit a nursery and garden to look at all the pretty plants and flowers. Tom’s Market, Goebbert’s Farm in Barrington and Hampshire has some classes to get you ready.

Hold a baby lamb and rent baby chicks. Check out this unique experience from Enjoy Pioneer Farm. They supply two chicks, feed, and bedding. What a cool experience! We didn’t rent chicks but we did get a chance to hold a baby lamb, chicks, bunnies, and more farm animals. Read about our experience here.

Apple orchard preview! Goebbert’s Farm in Hampshire is such a blast. (Read about it here.) This spring they will be offering a sneak peek of their apple orchard again. Not only will you go on a hayride, but they have their apple cider donuts and a chance to explore and play. We went last year and had so much fun. Did I mention it’s free?

Celebrate trees on Arbor Day! This year it is on April 26th. There’s no better place to celebrate trees than at the Morton Arboretum with workshops, storytime, and more. Their award-winning Children’s Garden rocks!

Calling all fairies! Head down to Joliet for a fun fairy fest. (May 4)

Spring has sprung and I can’t think of a better place to view pretty flowers than the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Walk around downtown. I love walking around small-town downtowns. There are cute boutiques, places to eat, some even have toy stores! Need an idea? How about walking around Woodstock Square in Woodstock?

Try to visit as many museums or attractions as we can with the KDRMA program, Passport to Adventure. Their passport comes out in May, and is a great way to find hidden gems around Kane County.

Spring cleaning. That means decluttering and cleaning the house. Donate your items or make a few bucks by selling them at a consignment store. I totally love Too Cute Consignment in Crystal Lake. They moved down the street into a larger location and it’s oh-so-cute! Read about it here.

Try to visit as many museums as we can with our ASTC Membership (which we LOVE!) We get free reciprocal membership to science museums around the nation. It’s great for a road-tripping family like ours.

Let’s have a playdate. The fabulous people at Chicago Parent Magazinewant to have a spring playdate with you. There next one is on April 28.

Elgin’s iFest celebrates all things international. Try different food with the family!

Get out of town! Spring is the perfect time to visit destinations around the area since it won’t be too crowded. We love Indy, Milwaukee, and Lake Geneva. In fact, we just came back from Lake Geneva. Read about it here.